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Player watch: Toby Alderweireld

doctor stefan Freud

the tired tread of sad biology
Sep 2, 2013
15,170
72,169
Reserved for the likely hood he sues, wins, and joins Chelsea on a free next year.
This place if this happens

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Ossie'sAardvark

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
2,073
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Actually, the one thing I’m surprised about is the contract for Toby we agreed to with the clause inserted. Seems very un Levy like, but I assume that’s the only way we could get him from under Southampton’s noses.

I suppose looking at the circumstances of the transfer it’s not hard to imagine a mercenary like streak in Toby and his advisors.
He most probably took in consideration the age , thinking he'd take that price if we want to sell. All I can think of.
 

Rout-Ledge

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2005
9,611
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If Toby stays but doesn’t sign, he will be at best a bit part player next season. And after two seasons of no consistent football, and approaching 31 years old, no team will be willing to pay him big money. We hold the cards here.
 

SpartanSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
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Leicester would surely have to consider at that price. They could replace him for a fraction, and good as he is, he's unlikely to make a difference between Leicester winning something or getting relegated.

First thought is whether Utd are trying to put the pressure on Levy, but surely admitting and inferior player is worth £65m doesn't help their cause!

Plus we had the trix info saying the Utd board wanted Maguire over Toby.
 

Ben1

Well-Known Member
Jun 22, 2015
2,130
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Leicester would surely have to consider at that price. They could replace him for a fraction, and good as he is, he's unlikely to make a difference between Leicester winning something or getting relegated.

First thought is whether Utd are trying to put the pressure on Levy, but surely admitting and inferior player is worth £65m doesn't help their cause!

Plus we had the trix info saying the Utd board wanted Maguire over Toby.
Good point...being willing to pay so much for Maguire hardly puts them in a great negotiating spot.
 

SpartanSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
12,552
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Good point...being willing to pay so much for Maguire hardly puts them in a great negotiating spot.

They can argue homegrown and age but you know Levy will have noticed that figure being mentioned. Plus he has no love for Utd, he won't give them Toby cheap.

Think Levy would go for the Martial swap though if offered.
 

dtxspurs

Welcome to the Good Life
Dec 28, 2017
11,234
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Or we could do what we’ve done since Christmas, and play Sanchez at the back with Vertonghen?

Everyone seems to forget that Toby barely featured for us from the mid point of last season, and when he did finally return we started dropping points all over the gaff. Not suggesting that correlation = causation in that regard, but surely if he was the reincarnation of Paolo Maldini as some like to make out then we’d have been more solid than ever in those games. We weren’t.

And even taking that out of the equation, we know from ITK that Toby has seriously upset Poch, and it goes well beyond wanting to force a move.

If he stays, he stays, but he isn’t even an automatic starter any more IMO given the rise and rise of Davinson in that position.

If we can get upwards of £50M for a 29 year old CB who has made himself a bench player through injuries, his performances and his conduct, then we should snap their hands off.

The sentimentality around Toby is seriously misplaced. He’s a good defender who’s generally played well for the club for three years. He isn’t a club legend like Ledley or Vertonghen, and he never will be. Sod him.

If we can use him to engineer the signing of Martial then happy days all around.

I'll offer a rebuttal and say that after Toby's absence our defense was clearly not as good as it had been, especially in "big" games. After Toby went out we gave up 2 to Arsenal, 4 to Juve over 2 games, 7 against Man City in 2 games, 2 to ManU in the Semi and 2 to Liverpool away. We are a better team when Toby plays, I'm honestly shocked that its debatable.
 

SdB

Well-Known Member
Aug 23, 2013
1,367
1,878
I'll offer a rebuttal and say that after Toby's absence our defense was clearly not as good as it had been, especially in "big" games. After Toby went out we gave up 2 to Arsenal, 4 to Juve over 2 games, 7 against Man City in 2 games, 2 to ManU in the Semi and 2 to Liverpool away. We are a better team when Toby plays, I'm honestly shocked that its debatable.
The debate for me is whether or not his injury impacts him going forward
I didn't think he looked particularly good defensively for Belgium in the WC.
 

synththfc

Well-Known Member
Aug 24, 2017
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26,716
The debate for me is whether or not his injury impacts him going forward
I didn't think he looked particularly good defensively for Belgium in the WC.

In the games against Brazil and France, I saw him get beat for pace multiple times and look reluctant to get physical with anyone.

I've maintained he lost a step physically after his nerve injury in late 2016, and it seems to be getting worse (especially after this latest hamstring tear)
 
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jonnyp

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2006
7,149
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In the games against Belgium and France, I saw him get beat for pace multiple times and look reluctant to get physical with anyone.

I've maintained he lost a step physically after his nerve injury in late 2016, and it seems to be getting worse (especially after this latest hamstring tear)

I didn't see much of the WC but Toby was never quick. He has always struggled a bit with pacey players. He has excellent positioning and reading of the game. Good tackler and good header of the ball. That's what makes him a great CB.
 
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